Cubs: The Inmates Running the Asylum, and That’s a Good Thing
There was a sense that Theo Epstein set new rules as a way to keep Joe Maddon from Joe Maddoning. Refocusing Maddon, ensuring he’s more involved, forcing more communication directly to players and not through conduits or text messages.
But in an interview before opening day Theo made it clear that the players asked for these changes.
Undermining much?
There will be a lot of folks that will hate the fact that the players are making the rules. The old school types that believe when a manager says jump, players say how high. This is how much of the American workforce has been managed, and the idea that a subordinate can coach up the chain sounds like a recipe for disaster.
But the modern office has adopted more of a leader role as opposed to the old manager dictatorship of years past. The manager is still the boss, but with feedback from those under them, they are able to learn how to truly motivate their people.
Players, like the working class, are smart. They understand what works, what doesn’t, and leadership benefits from a more focused team.
“What we heard in the exit interviews is a desire for more communication about that,” Epstein said. “Joe’s really responded to that. He’s letting players know who’s playing over the course of a whole series and not just the night before a game. That should give guys more information and reduce anxiety a little bit, let guys focus on what they need to help the team win. That’s where everyone’s head is at right now.”
Live by the sword
When you give the players a voice, and one that changes the clubhouse environment, you have to back it up. The Cubs, from their bat boys to ownership, has talked about the chip on their shoulder. Playing every pitch like it’s October. So with that talk, the expectations are there. Theo expects this team to be in first place at the end of April.
“Now that the season’s starting, we have to prove it. Talk is talk.”
It is easy to say the right things. It’s another thing to actually do it.
In game one of 162, the Cubs did it. Their approach at the plate was great. They all had a plan, their “opportunity hitting” scratched out multiple runs. They worked counts and punished balls in the zone.
It’s only one game, but they have walked the talk all spring and certainly in Thursday’s opener.
